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I have waxed lyrical previously about my love of the ‘Australian’ green and brown hues of Sydney pottery of the post-war period…and here are some more examples from my collection. Pates pottery operated out of Belmore- an industrial suburb of inner-Sydney, from 1946 and only ceased production in 1990.

Here is a selection of Pates vases in brown/green hues; two ‘lotus’ vases and a ‘log’ vase. Like many Pates vases, these shapes came in a variety of colours to suit the late 40s, early 50s décor. I decided my personal collection would be these ‘Australian’ colours [reminiscent of the bushland] – rather than the baby blues and powder pink or pastel yellow tones; but have rather too many to use or display now.

This set of Pates vases is in excellent vintage condition, and is for sale: $AU65

Pates pottery is one of the main areas in which I collect. If you’ve read my blog before, you’ll remember that Pates Pottery operated out of Belmore, Sydney from 1946 -1990 [and I have an affinity for between the wars pottery, especially potteries that were located near me in Sydney.] Pates’ designs and colours were influenced by the 1950s and 60s furnishing and domestic colour trends; and like many other pieces of this period, crimson and green or pink and green colourings abounded.

These wall pockets are made to be hung on the wall, so as to hold water and floral arrangements. The three shown here are: ‘sea scroll’ ‘gum leaf’ and ‘art deco’ [this despite the fact that it was made in the 50s.] The colours and forms are quite beautiful, and the three of them hung together is quite something.

I am now reluctantly parting with some of my Pates collection…I alas lack the wall space in which to display these vases to their full advantage. And they should be seen to their full advantage!

Pates Pottery operated out of Belmore, Sydney from 1946 -1990. As you may have noticed, given the tenor of the posts of this blog, being a Sydneyite I have an affinity for the potteries that were producing domestic ware in the 40s, 50s and 60s.

Pates’ designs and colours were influenced by the 1950s furnishing and domestic colour trends; and like Diana pottery – another Sydney pottery operating between the wars [and examples of which are in a couple of posts below] produced vases in baby blue, powder pink and pastel yellow. Pates, however, also continued to use a dual- drip coloured glaze– as evidence in these four vases.

The quite deco-shaped vase in front is a wall vase: designed to be hung on the wall and filled with flowers. The swan and fish-shaped vases are very typical of the animal themed vases made in the 40s. And the last posy vase has restrained deco-shaping; it’s an attempt to transition from the 20s to the 50s.

Start your Pates collection today! The four vases are for sale: $AUD125

In the 40s in Australia- attention turned to international affairs. International relations and customs- and in the arts this translated into- international footware.

So – an inordinate amount of attention was spent on collecting ‘shoes’ from different cultures. Here we have a selection of clogs- all in Pates signature colours and glazes – the back two serving also as ashtrays [because – why not combine an international interest with an actual requirement?]

This fantastic planters was made by Pates Pottery, which operated out of Belmore, Sydney from 1946 -1990. As you may have noticed, given the tenor of the posts of this blog, being a Sydneyite I have an affinity for the potteries that were producing domestic ware in the 40s, 50s and 60s.

Pates’ designs and colours were influenced by the 1940s art and interior design trends; and produced work with this ‘Australiana’ colour glaze- brown and green – apparently reminiscent of the Australian bush. This nationalistic colour combination was very popular, and since I am a landscape architect, and quite fond of the Australian bush, I have tended to collect both Pates pieces in this colour range.

These large planters look fantastic supporting a range of succulent plants: I have kept them in their pots inside the planters and styled them more like cut flowers. I love the colour combinations.

Pates vase, made in Australia 1960sLet’s Find Out About Spring, published in USA 1963

Welcome to Spring! – for those of you in the Northern Hemisphere. Here in Sydney, instead of autumnal weather we are having an extended Summer. One can only dream of Spring weather!

This lovely Pates vase is of the 60s – towards the end of that art potteries output. It’s unmarked on the base, but I have it on good authority that it is Pates. By the 60s this inter-war pottery was refining vase shapes but continued to use the drip glaze method – in ‘Australian’ colours- developed in the 40s.

The delightful book Let’s Find Out About Spring has a wonderful cover illustration [complementary to the vase] and an accompanying vinyl LP in the back, also entitled ‘Let’s Find Out About Spring’. It is amusing to me that some Australian parent has crossed out the word ‘Fall’ and inserted ‘Spring’ throughout the book, and inserted ‘…in America’.

The book was printed in Japan, and published by Franklin Watts, Inc in 1963. Written by Martha & Charles Shapp, it has illustrations by Laszlo Roth. The illustrations are unmarked; passing the censorship test of that Australian parent.

The vase is for sale: $AUD35 [and if you would like the book with LP, I’ll throw that in. The two look very good together.]

This fantastic planters was made by Pates Pottery, which operated out of Belmore, Sydney from 1946 -1990. As you may have noticed, given the tenor of the posts of this blog, being a Sydneyite I have an affinity for the potteries that were producing domestic ware in the 40s, 50s and 60s.

Pates’ designs and colours were influenced by the 1940s art and interior design trends; and produced work with this ‘Australiana’ colour glaze- brown and green – apparently reminiscent of the Australian bush. This nationalistic colour combination was very popular, and since I am a landscape architect, and quite fond of the Australian bush, I have tended to collect both Pates pieces in this colour range.

These large planters look fantastic supporting a range of succulent plants: I have kept them in their pots inside the planters and styled them more like cut flowers. I love the colour combinations.

I told you I liked 50s swans! Following from my last Pates post, here are two small swan vases, and a posy vase.

The swan on the left is similar to the large swan planter of the previous post- drip- glazed in 50s pinks & crimsons. The swan vase on the right is identical in shape but has a pastel pink and textured over-glaze. I’m not sure which one I like best- but that textured swan is surely the kitschiest.

The posy vase came in a number of sizes; this being the smallest. It’s also pastel pink, with a clear glaze finish to both the exterior and interior: the interior showing the clay colouring to its best advantage. Meanwhile the two swans have the same internal colourings as their exterior.

And there you have it- the ABC of 50s glazed ware; the shape, the colour, the texture, and the contrast. The three vases are for sale: $AUD75

Following from the last post- here is an example of Pates Pottery that I collect- those with an ‘Australiana’ colour glaze of brown and green – apparently reminiscent of the Australian bush. This nationalistic colour combination was very popular in the 50s, and since I am a landscape architect, and quite fond of the Australian bush, I have tended to collect Pates pieces in this colour range.

This quite deco-shaped vase has a removable ‘frog’ in the centre, in the same glaze. The frog is shaped with holes to support flower stems at the angle required…in this image I have attempted some free-form Ikebana, with Banksia flowers. That’s the great thing about retro vases- they lend a certain gravitas to one’s attempt at flower arranging!

Pates Pottery operated out of Belmore, Sydney from 1946 -1990; so a similar period to Diana pottery. Pates was slower to develop an Australian response to the design and colouring of its pieces and was still producing baskets and swans well into the 50s. These baskets, with their twisted handles, seemed to have been produced all over the world.

Pates used a ‘drip-glaze’ method on most of their pieces and indeed one way to spot a Pates piece is by its mottled colouring. I have collected many Pates pieces- and some of these pieces have made it onto this blog.

The three baskets look great together as an ensemble: here they are showcasing wattle- another Australian iconic flower. They are for sale: $AUD55